Chapter Text
The horse moved them through the park at a fast but steady pace. The wind hit her face and blew of the hood of her cape yet again, but Kate didn’t bother putting it back on. She was too busy smiling to really pay it any notice. What was that just now? Had she truly joked and may she dare say flirted with a stranger on her first morning in London? Why yes, she had. Those dark eyes. That genuine grin he gave when she bested him. That intense look that made Kate feel as if he could truly see her. Kate let out a surprised laugh. If only her mother and sister could see her now. Edwina would want to know everything about the handsome stranger while Mary would chastise her for her reckless behaviour.
She should truly feel more remorse for her sharp tongue and dry remarks, but it had come so naturally and easily when they spoke. A battle of wills was always thrilling, and he had just brought it out of her. The truth was that Kate had never felt so free, so alive. They might both have held up the façade at first, him of the perfect gentleman and she as a polite lady, but when he promised to keep her secret, they soon noticed that they did not have to play a part. Kate could never just be herself, there was always some responsibility or other holding her back. But here no one knew her or her responsibilities. It was nice.
The ride came to an end when she returned to the home of Lady Danbury, an old friend of her mother’s. As they only arrived in this country late last night, she had yet to meet their gracious host. But as there had been others in the park, she was sure to be late to said meet any moment now. She returned the horse to its home and rushed inside, taking the same path up to her room as earlier when she snuck out. Safe inside her room she let out a loud sigh of relief before discarding her cloak and setting herself in front of the mirror to pin up her hair to the best of her ability.
As she walked through the halls and neared the lounge, she could her conversing voices and cursed silently to herself. She was late. Just as she heard her name, Kate walked through the open door to the lounge and announced her presence.
“My apologies! I do hope I did not keep you waiting long. The gardens here are so lovely. After our lengthy journey here, I found myself in desperate need of some fresh air and I simply lost track of time.”
“My eldest, Lady Danbury. Miss Kate Sharma.”
Kate curtsied and then followed the other women over to a group of seating arrangements to break their fast.
“Well, now that we are all here-“
“Almost.”
“Pardon?” Lady Danbury looked understandably confused.
“There’s also Newton.” As if he had sensed his name being called, the corgi came charging into the room and immediately came to paw at the hem of Lady Danbury's dress. Lady Danbury did not look too pleased at his presence, but that didn’t bother Kate in the least. She simply picked up the corgi and cuddled him close on her lap.
During their breakfast, they discussed the Sharma’s first social engagement and their introduction to the ton. As Lady Danbury begun to talk about lessons and tutors, Kate could merely smirk behind her cup of that horrible concoction the English called tea. When Edwina proved Lady Danbury wrong on all accounts, Kate couldn’t hide her satisfaction. Her sister was her pride and joy, and she had made sure that her sister would not go out into the world unprepared.
After breakfast, they spent some more time going through available bachelors and customs they needed to know for tonight. Then Lady Danbury took it upon herself to show them around the large house and grounds. It was well past lunch by the time Edwina and Kate found themselves alone in Edwina’s room, only because they were supposed to start getting ready for the ball that evening. As soon as the door closed behind them, Edwina was upon her.
“The dowager is certainly formidable…” Edwina conceded. “She will have your head when she hears of your morning ride. You are certain no one saw you?”
“The dowager isn’t half as scary as she thinks she is.” Kate quipped and tried to ignore her sister’s pointed stare. But Edwina wasn’t to be fooled.
“What aren’t you telling me, Kate?”
“I was seen…” she admitted and walked over to the chest that held all of the dresses that would adorn Edwina’s body during the season.
“Kate!” Edwina exclaimed. “By whom?”
“I do not know his name. We did not introduce ourselves. But he did assure me that my secret was safe with him.”
“Him?! You met with a strange man unsupervised?!”
“Shh, bon!” Kate hushed her sister and listened for signs of anyone else being nearby but found none. “Someone might hear you! And he did not look strange.”
“Strange, as in unknown, didi.” Edwina sighed exasperated. Then thought better of it. “How did he look then? Was he handsome?”
Was he handsome? Handsome was somewhat of an understatement in Kate’s opinion. It didn’t seem enough. Especially when he smiled. Kate had been really taken by his smile. It reached his eyes and had seemed so genuine, like he had truly enjoyed their verbal sparring just as much as Kate had. Edwina was of course right. It was a dangerous game she was playing being outside without a chaperone. But she needed her freedom, and what was really the harm? She would probably never see the man again.
“Earth to Kate?!” Edwina nudged Kate with her elbow. “He was handsome, wasn’t he? Oh, what if he happens to be at the ball tonight? How romantic!”
“He won’t be there. This isn’t one of your romance novels, bon.”
“We must begin to get ready!” Edwina continued on as if Kate had not spoken. She flew over to the chest and started to pull out dress after dress. “Oh, this would look stunning on you.”
“No! It will look stunning on you, bon. Remember, we’re here to find you a husband, not me.”
“There’s nothing saying we cannot do both, didi!”
The rest of Kate’s protests fell on deaf ears. Edwina would not hear a word of it and insisted that Kate would model the dresses before deciding that a pale blue one filled with rhinestones and pearls would be Kate’s for that very evening. While Kate found Edwina’s excitement endearing, it also made her nervous. This was not the plan. The focus was not supposed to be on Kate. It was supposed to be on Edwina and Edwina only. For Edwina and their mama to survive, Edwina had to marry. She was their family’s hope. Kate would go back to India, find a governess position, and their mama would be with Edwina and her husband. All would be well, and this burden would be lifted off of her chest.
Later that evening, she walked into the glass conservatory on sister’s arm, with their mother and Lady Danbury trailing them. The sight that greeted them was a sight like no other. Flowers and candles were everywhere. Servants in every corner with trays of champagne. People dressed in all colours of the rainbow and covered in the most sparkling jewellery. It was truly a stunning sight indeed.
The doors had not closed behind them when Lady Danbury started talking about potential suitors for Edwina. And Kate. But Kate would not have any of that.
“I will not be taking to the dancefloor this evening, Lady Danbury.”
“Is there someone back home that you have yet to tell me about?” Lady Danbury inquired, quite irritated with Kate for continuously altering her plans.
“Come now, I am well past all of that. The only match I am interested with is for my sister.”
“Ah, there she is!” Lady Danbury moved away from them as she had spotted someone from across the room.
The Sharmas all followed Lady Danbury and soon found themselves faced with none other than the Queen herself. The meeting was polite but tense. Kate held her breath as she curtsied as she was introduced. This was it. The moment to make an impression with the Queen to garner her favour. They would surely need the Queen’s approval to garner entry to the ton.
The Queen left with one final pointed remark in Mary’s direction before walking off. All three of the Sharmas let out huge sighs of relief. Lady Danbury moved them along and introduced them to some people on the way. They came to a stop at the dancefloor to watch the partakers. That is when she saw him. Even from across the room and with a flock of women crowding him, she could tell that he was the gentleman from this morning.
“I know that gentleman.” She spoke before her brain caught up with her mouth.
“Who?” Edwina asked.
“The Viscount?” Lady Danbury sounded surprised. “I do not believe I have yet made an introduction.”
“Of course.” Kate tried to cover up her mistake. “It must be my mistake.”
“Though, you have quite the eye. Viscount Bridgerton is wealthy, well connected and from one of the ton’s most illustrious families. Apparently hoping to marry this season. He may very well be our most eligible bachelor indeed.”
“He is very handsome.” Edwina noted.
“Yes.” Kate agreed. Once again speaking without thinking it through. “I suppose he is.”
Kate cast her eyes down onto the floor to hide her embarrassment. But not soon enough. Edwina managed to catch her eye, and it was clear that her sister had caught on to who Viscount Bridgerton really was. This was not supposed to be happening. He was supposed to be a stranger, never to be seen again. Yet here they were, in the vicinity of one another, in the same room. All of the feelings she had held onto since this morning sprung to the forefront of her mind. The thrill of excitement, the freedom and sense of comfort to be herself, which was not something she found often with people.
She watched as he signed the fawning girls’ dance cards with a panicked look on his face. The smile on his face was strained and didn’t reach his eyes. It was polite. Nothing like it had been this morning. Which almost made Kate glad. It gave her hope. Hope for what she wasn’t quite sure, but she felt her mood rise just the thought of him not being genuine with anyone but her.
Could there maybe be some truth in Edwina’s words, that just because they were looking for a match for Edwina it didn’t mean they couldn’t look for one for Kate as well. As long as her match didn’t get in the way of Edwina’s chances, then what was the harm? Even Lady Danbury tried to guide gentlemen her way. Whether to get her out of the way or not, it didn’t seem that Lady Danbury thought it to be damaging.
No, she decided. This was not one of Edwina’s romance novels. What was to say that she had not imagined this morning and the instant connection she felt. Or what if it was all one sided and this morning had not meant to him, what it had meant to her? Kate couldn’t bear that. It was better to avoid him at all costs and preserve the memory with fondness for a rainy day and leave it for what it was.
Rather than staring out into the ether, he should be staring down at the accounts and sort out his family’s spendings. But Anthony had found another, more alluring, distraction. He didn’t know her name, but he had not been able to stop thinking about her since she left him wanting more this morning. Not only had she bested him on horseback, but she had kept up with him in wit as well. Her responses had been honest and unfiltered. She had attempted to keep it polite, but her sass had slipped through anyway. She was not like any other woman he had spent the week courting. He found himself intrigued beyond belief and when she rode off in the morning mist, he felt bereft. He wanted her to stay. To continue their battle of wills.
It didn’t help matters that she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Golden skin. Brown eyes. Nose as big as a button. Long dark hair that had been gathered up in a braid falling down the side of her face. Plump lips that looked so soft. What really drew him in were those dark orbs. No matter what came out of her mouth, her eyes told him the truth. Even though she didn’t voice it, he could see the irritation or amusement in her eyes. Usually, he found ladies’ eyes to be empty if they weren’t pleading to please with their behaviour. They had been taught to mask their emotions, as had men. Society demanded that of them. All that mattered was perception and any emotion other than what was appropriate in the setting was irrelevant. Anthony enjoyed the fact that the beautiful stranger didn’t bother with perception, that she didn’t conform to society’s every norm.
Anthony shook himself out of his thoughts and looked back down at the accounts. No, it didn’t do for him to get lost in his desires. What he needed was a wife who could handle the responsibility of being a Viscountess in a society that demanded a lot from them. His personal preferences didn’t matter. No matter how fruitless he might have found the search.
A small voice inside of his head whispered that there was a possibility that the beautiful stranger from this morning could belong to the ton. But Anthony was not sure what that would mean. Would it change anything? Or would it merely complicate matters? While he was determined that his marriage would not be a place for love, something told him that with her, that was not a guarantee. She equalled danger. She wasn’t something that he could control, and he found that he didn’t want too either. But if there was one thing he needed in his life, it was control of his emotions to ensure that his passing didn’t leave a mark on those left behind.
“Aren’t you ready yet, dearest?” his mother stuck her head around the door of his office before she walked inside. Anthony took out his father’s pocket watch and looked at the time.
“I didn’t realise. Time got away from me.”
“You work too hard.” His mother admonished. “Your future wife won’t be too happy about that.”
“Or I simply have to find a wife who understands my role as a Viscount.” Anthony bit out and rose from his desk.
His work ethic and sense of responsibility had always been a subject of contention between the two of them. Both of them kept comparing him to his father and he kept on coming up short. Instead of admitting defeat, Anthony kept working and pushing harder out of fear. But he could never replace his father and that was the real issue wasn’t it for the both of them, the fact that his father was not there with them.
“Anthony…”
“We do not have the time for this, mother. I need to change before we leave.”
Anthony brushed past her and headed upstairs to his rooms to change into this evening’s clothes. He loved his mother, but she had the ability to rub him the wrong way at the wrong time. After he had changed into his dark blue coat, he placed his father’s watch inside his right-hand side pocket and hurried downstairs where he found his family already waiting.
“Good of you to show up brother.” Eloise sneered as she simultaneously tugged on her dress, much to his mother’s despair.
The ride over to Lady Danbury’s ball was silent apart of Eloise’s attempts of getting out of tonight’s event and his mother’s refusal. It was quite amusing really and kept Benedict and himself entertained until they arrived. Their entrance did not go unnoticed, and they were immediately approached by a young man when Benedict took pity on their sister and lured her out of their mother’s grip.
Anthony took a quick look around the room and released a big sigh. All of the faces he could spot were familiar to him. Either he had already met with them, or he had seen them the previous year as Daphne made her debut.
“It truly is a spars crop.” He pointed out to his mother.
“Surely there is someone here who will charm you. After all, this is the season the Viscount intends to find a wife.” With every word, her voice rose in volume and garnered the attention of the crowd.
“You honestly just did that?” he asked in disbelief and looked at the approaching crowd of young ladies and their mothers. Suddenly he understood how Eloise had felt a moment ago. He was not going to survive this.
Ladies in all kinds of colours surrounded him and waved with their fans and dance cards, prompting him to sign them to claim a dance. Everyone wanted to dance with a Lord. Anthony lost count of how many dances he had endured when he ran off the dancefloor and headed outside for some fresh air. The moment the air hit his lungs and the music stopped was the moment he felt that he came back to himself. Was this how the rest of the season was going to be? If it was, he had half a mind to revert on his promise to find a wife this season. Maybe any season.
Anthony stepped down from the terrace and looked out into the dark surroundings that was slightly illuminated by the light coming from inside. That is when he caught a flash of colour to his left. There was a woman there smelling the flowers that surrounded the terrace. He moved to head back inside, as being caught alone with a member of the opposite sex was absolutely the last thing he wanted, when she turned her head and he froze. It was her! It was the stunning woman from this morning that had been stuck on his mind ever since.
She had yet to notice his presence and Anthony used that to his advantage and took his time to take in her beauty. Her long dark hair was this time pinned up in an intricate style and adorned with a shining tiara filled with jewels. Her dress was blue, blue like the Bridgerton colour. Anthony couldn’t help but notice how well she wore the colour.
“Did you enjoy your victory lap?” he spoke and took another step in her direction. She startled and jumped a foot up into the air.
“You!” she exclaimed and placed a hand on top of her chest. But she quickly gathered her wits and schooled her features, just like in the woods. “Lord Bridgerton.”
“I believe you have me at a disadvantage, I have yet to learn your name.”
“That’s because I didn’t give it to you, my Lord.”
“Are you truly denying me the pleasure?” he drew in even closer, until he could see the glint of sparkle in her eyes.
“I wouldn’t dare, my Lord.” She teased and Anthony felt the rest of the world disappear around them. All he could see and hear was her. The smile on his face grew, he couldn’t contain it. “My name is Kate. Kate Sharma.”
“Well, miss Sharma, it’s a pleasure to meet you again.” Before he could stop himself, the next part spilled out of him. “You have distracted me all day.”
“Is that so?”
Anthony felt the top of his ears burn in embarrassment. He had not meant for her to know that. He had not meant for anyone to know that. His person was usually smoother than that. The only redeeming factor about the situation was that Kate seemed quite pleased with his off-handed comment. It made him think that perhaps all was not lost after all, so he decided to run with it.
“You happened to make quite the impression.”
“I cannot decide if that is a good or a bad thing.”
“Definitely a good thing!” The goofy grin returned to Anthony’s face. “You are a very accomplished rider.”
“Coming from you, that’s high praise my Lord.”
“But why alone at dawn?”
“I enjoy the freedom, and if I go alone, I cannot be seen. Especially as I ride astride.”
“My sisters enjoy doing the same when we are out in the countryside. I must admit it is nice not to have everyone’s eyes on you at all times.”
“I do not know how you do it all of the time.” Kate confessed. “I have merely endured it for a day, and I am already tired of it. I don’t know how I will last the entire season.”
“Where do you come from? I suppose they do it differently there?”
“India.”
“And you have come all this way? Why?”
Kate opened her mouth to answer him when they both heard another female voice calling Kate’s name. They both looked at each other with wide eyes. Both of them knew that they could not be seen together like this, alone in the darkness. Anthony did the only thing he could do. He gave a bow in Kate’s direction before backing into the darkness and into the garden. Before he rounded the corner of the greenhouse to head back inside, he could hear Kate call out her response to the inquiry. He smiled at the sound of her voice. Perhaps this season wouldn’t be so bad after all.
As soon as they entered the house of Lady Danbury, Edwina made their excuses immediately and dragged Kate up to their rooms under the pretence of exhaustion. She followed Kate into her room and closed the door behind them. Kate pretended that she had not noticed Edwina’s presence in her room and went about getting ready for bed, but Edwina would not be ignored.
“It’s him, isn’t it? Lord Bridgerton?” she asked eagerly and grabbed onto Kate’s arm to get her to stop moving around. “The gentleman from the park?”
It was futile to try and pretend otherwise, especially as it appeared they would be moving in the same circles the entire season. She had truly given herself away earlier at the ball. Then there was the fact that they had nearly been caught being on their own again, by none other than Edwina. So, Kate nodded and then winched when Edwina squealed with excitement.
“I knew it! You were right, Kate. He’s very handsome and not at all strange looking.”
“Edwina!” But her sister paid her no heed.
“Oh, how exciting! Now we only have to get the two of you introduced properly and then you can begin your courtship.”
“I will not be courting anybody this season. We are here to find a match for you, bon.”
Again, her protest fell onto deaf ears. Edwina waved away her concerns and headed towards the door, all while telling Kate all about her dreams for this season out loud. When the door closed behind her younger sister, Kate sunk down onto the stool in front of her dressing table with a sigh of relief. She loved her sister, she truly did, but the young woman could be rather intense at times.
Kate began to remove all of the pins that held up her hair, letting it tumble down her back in loose waves. With slick and talented fingers, Kate quickly gathered the strands in a braid that rested against her chest. Next, she removed all of the jewellery she had worn during the night. When it came to removing her dress, she struggled a little, but eventually she got it off and adorned her nightgown. The maids would have happily helped her, but Kate was not unused to dressing herself.
She moved over to the window and looked out over the streets of Mayfair. At places you could see candles in the darkness, but almost the entire city was asleep. The door to her rooms opened behind her and she expected to hear Edwina’s footsteps on the carpet and see her reflection in the window. Much to her surprise it was Lady Danbury’s cane that made itself known to her. Kate spun around to greet the dowager.
“Are you planning to go riding again tomorrow?” Kate couldn’t hide her surprise. She had been so careful, sure that the dowager did not know. “I know all that goes on in my home, dear girl. But as you insist on sneaking around, I may as well save us both the trouble.” With that Lady Danbury held up an envelope triumphantly into the air. “Correspondence. From your grandparents, the Sheffield’s. I wrote to them before you arrived.”
“Those people are not my grandparents, Lady Danbury. I have no relation to them whatsoever in fact.”
Despite the walls pressing in on her, Kate felt completely calm. Everything she had worked so hard for could be ruined depending on what was in that letter, but somehow Kate could not be bothered anymore.
“It seems you have not been straight forward with me.”
“I realise I should not have left without a chaperone.”
“And what about failing to tell me why you have truly come to London with your sister? I’m rather more concerned about that.”
“We have come to find Edwina a husband.”
“And is that all? You would be wise to reconsider to resort to more forgeries and half truths miss Sharma! Very few attempt to outwit me and even fewer succeed. You are living under my roof, under my care. Relying on my good name, my connections, my money. I vouched for you and your sister in front of her majesty the Queen. All because I thought I was paying a kindness to an old friend.” Lady Danbury got more and more upset, the longer she spoke.
“And we are truly grateful for everything.”
“Your mama misses your father, naturally. But she never really wanted to come back here, did she? You did! I have no interest of being used as pawn in someone else’s game.”
“That is not what we are doing.” The desperation in Kate’s voice started to set in. She could not allow Lady Danbury to think ill of her family, Edwina and their mama’s future depended on it.
“Then tell me what stipulations the Sheffield’s have apparently set down in regard to Edwina’s match. Stipulations, which if met, will I’m guessing, guarantee great fortune for you and your family.” There was no other option for Kate other than to tell the truth.
“Edwina must marry an Englishman of nobility.”
“They could not control your mama’s marriage, so they mean to interfere with your sister’s.” Lady Danbury sighed and sat down on the nearest soft surface.
“Yes.” Kate agreed. “They never recovered from my father’s lack of rank and title. But let me assure you Lady Danbury, I am not here for selfish reasons. After my father died, mama and I did the best we could to raise Edwina, all so she would never know of our struggles. But our money ran low, we used the last for this very journey. The Sheffield’s have agreed to bestow a sizable dowery on my sister and to look after my mama. But only if Edwina marries properly.” Kate sat down next to Lady Danbury, head held high, not willing to let the Dowager see her pain. But it appeared the Dowager was more formidable than Kate first anticipated.
“And what about you?”
“If I could marry for the sake of my family, I would. But I am not my mama’s daughter by birth, Edwina is.”
“Ah.”
“I have spent the last eight years raising my sister to walk in the right way, to talk in the right way, to play the piano forte just so. Teaching her twice as much and watching her work twice as hard as anyone else. I even taught her how to prepare this pitiful excuse for tea the English so adore. I despise English tea.” Lady Danbury laughed her candour. “But if it means that my sister will not be left destitute, then I will smile and I will nod politely after each and every sip to be sure.”
“Your sister has a right to know. As you said, it is her future.”
“That is precisely why I shield her. Because I know her. If she was made aware of the circumstances, she would marry quickly only to please us. She would say yes to any man kind enough to ask. Edwina deserves the chance to find love without such a burden. Please, you must not tell a soul.” Kate pleaded.
Lady Danbury hummed and got up from her seat, but Kate could tell that she had won the approval of the elderly woman. Her secret was safe for now. But that was all that mattered. Now she only had to find the perfect match for Edwina.